Amber Snow Warning as UK Braces for Snow, 80mph Winds and Flooding

An amber warning for snow has been issued across parts of Scotland, as forecasters also warned of heavy rain, strong winds and a heightened risk of flooding across much of the UK.

The Met Office said the amber warning covers central and north eastern Scotland, stretching from areas north of Glasgow through to Aberdeen. It is in force until 2pm on Sunday.

Snowfall of up to 30cm is possible on higher ground, while lower lying areas are expected to see between 2cm and 5cm. The warning follows several days of snow, ice and sub zero temperatures that have affected Scotland and other parts of the country.

The latest alerts come after Storm Goretti caused widespread disruption earlier in the week, triggering school closures, travel delays and a rare red warning for wind in parts of the South West. Gusts of almost 100mph were recorded, and police confirmed a man in his 50s died on Thursday evening after a tree fell onto a caravan in the Mawgan area of Helston, Cornwall.

Unsettled conditions continue

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said Sunday would bring a “very unsettled start”, with outbreaks of heavy rain, strong winds and snow.

He said the UK was currently transitioning from a prolonged cold spell to milder air, but warned this shift would increase the risk of flooding as snow melts and rainfall intensifies.

Yellow weather warnings for snow, ice, wind and rain remain in force across large parts of the UK through the weekend and into Monday.

The Met Office warnings include:

• Snow and ice across much of Scotland, the North West, North East and West Midlands until 3pm on Sunday
• Wind across Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England until 9pm on Sunday, followed by a second warning for northern Scotland from Sunday night into Monday
• Rain warnings for Northern Ireland, south west Scotland and north west Scotland, with flooding possible
• Ice warnings across the East Midlands, North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire until late Sunday morning

Power cuts and travel disruption

The amber warning in Scotland highlights the potential for significant disruption to road and rail networks, along with the risk of power cuts and interruptions to mobile phone coverage.

Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop urged people in affected areas to consider delaying journeys and working from home where possible.

“These conditions will inevitably impact the transport network,” she said. “It is vital that people and communities plan ahead to stay safe.”

Meanwhile, National Grid said it was continuing to deal with the aftermath of Storm Goretti. More than 20,000 properties across England and Wales were still without power on Saturday, with the South West worst affected.

Read More: Storm Goretti to bring widespread 30cm snow as warnings blanket Britain

Around 19,000 homes in the South West remained without electricity, with smaller numbers affected in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Wales. National Grid said power had already been restored to nearly 170,000 properties and engineers were working around the clock.

Gradual return to milder weather

Despite the unsettled conditions, temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days. Plymouth could reach highs of 13C on Sunday, while Manchester may see temperatures close to 10C. By comparison, Madrid is forecast to reach around 8C.

The Met Office said the UK would begin to move away from the coldest weather next week, with temperatures of 9C to 11C expected in southern areas and around 6C to 8C elsewhere.

Forecasters said conditions should gradually improve into the start of next week, although they urged people to remain alert while warnings remain in place.